Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of three bills to expand and improve health care for our nation’s women veterans. The bills include the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, and the Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act.
“As we begin the new legislative session, my commitment to serving America’s veterans remains stronger than ever,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “These bills will equip the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the tools and resources needed to improve the access and quality of reproductive and menopausal health care services provided to women veterans. Congress must make good on our nation’s promise that guarantees comprehensive, accessible, and equitable health care for all who have served our nation in uniform.”
Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025
“As the Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, one of my primary goals is to identify disparities in care for veterans and, where necessary, introduce, advocate for, and pass legislation that fixes those gaps,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act will address the infertility struggles that many veterans of all genders face. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for this country, and I don’t accept that they should have to sacrifice the opportunity and joys of parenthood too.”
In March of 2024, VA expanded its authority to provide in-vitro fertilization (IFV) to unmarried veterans and veterans in same-sex relationships. However, while VA can now provide IVF to an unmarried veteran, they cannot provide the same service to the partners of unmarried veterans. This means that while VA can provide IVF treatment to the partner of a married veteran, VA cannot provide that same treatment to the partner of an unmarried veteran, simply because of the couple’s marital status. VA is also now able to treat veterans with donated gametes or embryos, although it will not cover the cost of acquiring donor gametes and embryos.
Despite these changes, the expanded eligibility criteria for VA’s IVF services have not been codified into law. Subsequently, a new administration could easily roll back these changes, simply by updating VA policy. Furthermore, to be eligible to receive any IVF care from VA, veterans must still be able to prove their infertility is caused by a service-connected disability. Most veterans with infertility therefore face a difficult choice: pay the prohibitive cost of IVF out of pocket or lose valuable treatment time proving a VA service connection.
The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025 will:
- Make infertility care, including Assisted Reproductive Technology (like IVF), part of the medical services provided by VA to any veteran and/or partner (if applicable) who needs infertility care to achieve a pregnancy
- Allow IVF for up to three successful pregnancies or six attempted cycles
- Codify a veteran’s ability to use donated gametes and embryos
The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025 is endorsed by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Minority Veterans of America (MVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Fleet Reserve Association, and Veterans of Foreign War (VFW).
Read the full text of the bill here.
Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act
“Choosing when, or if, to have a family, is essential to women’s health and to their economic security,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Yet, the health needs of women veterans go unaddressed in a VA system that has not evolved to equitably serve a changing population. The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act will eliminate the disparities preventing women veterans from accessing basic contraceptive services, providing them with the same care as their civilian counterparts – without co-pays. It is completely unacceptable that women veterans face greater obstacles to accessing basic contraceptive care simply because they rely on VA for their health care, and I am working with my colleagues to ensure we fix this glaring gap in care for women veterans.”
Through the Affordable Care Act, all women using civilian health insurance can access basic contraceptive services without a co-pay. Active duty service members also have access to contraception without co-pays through TRICARE. Yet, women veterans using VA healthcare are currently denied this access. The benefits of contraception are widely recognized and eliminating cost-sharing barriers can greatly improve access to the full range of contraception and related counseling that improves women’s health. The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act is a significant step toward ensuring all women have access to comprehensive contraceptive care.
The bill is endorsed by a broad coalition of organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Catholics for Choice, Center for Reproductive Rights, Endocrine Society, Guttmacher Institute, Ibis Reproductive Health, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Ipas, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, Medical Students for Choice, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Minority Veterans of America (MVA), Modern Military Association of America (MMAA), NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, National Birth Equity Collaborative, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Health Law Program, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Health Network, National Women’s Law Center, Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), People For the American Way, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection Action Fund, Power to Decide, Protect Our Defenders, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Reproductive Health Access Project, Service Women’s Action Network, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The American Legion, Union for Reform Judaism, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Women of Reform Judaism.
Read the full text of the bill here.
Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025
The VA is responsible for providing veterans with timely, quality, cost-effective, and safe health care. This includes serving nearly two million women veterans, who have a median age of 51 years. Women veterans aged 45 and up are the largest single demographic in the women veteran population.
“As our women veteran population ages, VA must keep up with the growing demand from menopausal care,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Congress needs to know more about VA’s readiness to deliver this specialized care at the standard fit for those who served our nation in uniform. My bill calls for a study and directs VA to implement the study’s recommendations to improve the quality of menopause care provided by VA. We must ensure that women who have served our country can age with the dignity and care they deserve.”
The Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025 directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study and submit a report on the menopause care that is provided through VA.
The report will include:
- A description of the menopause care currently provided by VA
- A review of VA’s guidelines regarding provider training, diagnosis and treatment of menopause, and referral process to community providers
- A review of veterans’ access to interdisciplinary care and treatment for the side effects of menopause
- VA’s current educational and outreach efforts for veterans, including treatment options, benefits, and risks
- An evaluation of the quality of menopause care at VA through first-hand experience from veterans, including VA’s handling of feedback or concerns regarding this issue
- A review of how menopause research is being leveraged at VA
- Recommendations to improve menopause care at VA
The bill also requires VA to submit a strategic plan within six months of the GAO report publication, to implement the report’s recommendations and improve the quality of menopause care at VA.
The Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act is endorsed by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Service Women Action Network, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).
Read the full text of the bill here.
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Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare, Veterans' Affairs, Women Veterans Task Force